Shark Tank cinnamon rolls cozy up to Richardson's Alamo Drafthouse

Gourmet cinnamon roll shop and Shark Tank graduate Cinnaholic is inching closer to Dallas and has found an especially sweet address. The California-based chain, which debuted in Texas in 2015, is opening a branch in Richardson, next door to Alamo Drafthouse in the Richardson Heights shopping center.

Cinnaholic is a custom cinnamon roll concept, with more than 30 frosting flavors and nearly two dozen toppings. You select a frosting such as maple or Irish cream, then add toppings like fresh berries, nuts, or gingersnap cookies. Everything is dairy-free, lactose-free, egg-free, and cholesterol-free, making Cinnaholic vegan-friendly.

The company was founded in 2009 by baker Shannon Radke and her husband, Florian, in Berkeley, California. It remained a local favorite until 2014, when the couple pitched their idea on the ABC show Shark Tank. They've since opened franchised shops in Las Vegas, San Diego, and more.

The first branch in Texas opened in Southlake in October 2015. According to a spokeswoman, Richardson will open "sometime in October," depending on the completion of construction and usual last-minute details that accompany the inspection process.

Richardson has already established its vegan-friendliness, as home to Reverie BakeShop, the only vegan bakery in North Texas, which makes cupcakes, cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, doughnuts, brownies, cinnamon rolls, and vegan ice cream, as well as savory items such as kolaches, chorizo empanadas, and "chik'n" pot pie.

Local franchisees AB and Elisa Tiffee say that, in addition to Richardson, other North Texas locations being considered by Cinnaholic include Plano, Frisco, and Addison. "But we're looking to get Richardson open first, and we're happy we'll be open in time for the holidays," Elisa says.

Although Cinnaholic's products are vegan, that's almost secondary, Florian says.

"If you go into our store in Berkeley, we don't have a sign that says it's a vegan cinnamon roll," he says. "Our big thing is that we're the first and only custom gourmet cinnamon roll shop, with frosting flavors and toppings. We're like a Cold Stone Creamery for cinnamon rolls."

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